Currently, LGBTQ youth are subjected to great uncertainty and potential discrimination in schools across the country.

Only 14 states and D.C. explicitly address discrimination against students based on sexual orientation and gender identity.

While these states are explicitly addressing discrimination against LGBT elementary and high school students, there is no explicit federal law protecting these students nationwide.

That is why HRC endorsed The Equality Act, a comprehensive federal non-discrimination law. The Equality Act would provide basic explicit protections against discrimination based on sexual orientation or gender identity in matters of education, as well as public spaces, workplace, housing, jury service, credit and federal funding.

Unfortunately, LGBTQ students are subject to pervasive discrimination, including harassment, intimidation and violence. According to HRC Foundation’s Growing Up LGBT In America report, only half of LGBTQ youth surveyed say that they “fit in” in their community and are more than twice as likely to be verbally harassed at school.